Effects of several harmful factors on expression of glycine receptor α1 subunit in neonatal rat myocardial cells

AIM: To study the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit in neonatal rat myocardial cells and to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hypoxia/reoxygenation, isoproterenol (ISO) and high concentration of glucose (HG) on the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit in the neonatal rat myocardial cells. METHODS: Neonatal rat myocardial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit was detected by Western blotting. The neonatal rat myocardial cells were treated with LPS (20 mg/L), ISO (100μmol/L) or high concentration of glucose (25 mmol/L) for 24 h, or were exposed to hypoxia for 3 h followed by reoxygenation for 3 h. Subsequently, the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit in the neonatal rat myocardial cells was positively detectable by Western blotting. Compared with control group, no significant difference of the cell viability (P>0.05) in LPS group, ISO group, hypoxia/reoxygenation group and HG group was observed. The expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit was increased (P<0.01) in LPS group, ISO group and hypoxia/reoxygenatio group, but decreased (P<0.01) in HG group. CONCLUSION: Glycine receptor α₁ subunit exists in the neonatal rat myocardial cells. A certain concentration of LPS or ISO, or hypoxia/reoxygenation for a certain period upregulate the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit, but HG downregulates the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit in cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells.     

Role of glycine receptor in protection of glycine against anoxia/reoxygenation injury in cardiomyocytes

AIM:To investigate whether glycine receptor is involved in the protection of glycine against anoxia/reoxygenation injury in cardiomyocytes by detecting oxygen free radical metabolism, apoptosis and intracellular calcium overload. METHODS:The neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured and exposed to anoxia and reoxygenation (A/R) in the presence of glycine receptor antagonist, glycine or in free chloride buffer. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), the intracellular free calcium concentration and the apoptotic rate in the cardiomyocytes were determined. RESULTS:SOD activity and NO content in cardiomyocytes were lower, but MDA content, intracellular free calcium concentration and apoptotic rate in cardiomyocytes were higher in A/R group than those in control. Pretreatment with glycine inhibited the above changes caused by A/R, which was reversed by strychnine treatment and in the free chloride medium. CONCLUSIONS:Glycine inhibits free radical production, attenuates calcium overload, decreases apoptotic rate and increases SOD activity and NO release in cardiomyocytes exposed to A/R. These findings suggest that glycine exerts a protective effect against A/R injury via glycine receptor and glycine protects the neonatal rat cardiomycytes from A/R-induced injury in a chloride-dependent manner.     

Effect of glycine liposomes on mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes

AIM: To observe the effect of glycine liposomes on the mitochondrial membrane potential and the apoptosis rate in cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. METHODS: A cardiomyocyte injury model was established by using hypoxia/reoxygenation. DiOC6(3) as fluorescence molecular probe was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential in each group. The method of Annexin V associated with PI was used to detect the apoptosis ratio in each group. RESULTS: (1) The result of flow cytometry showed that the mitochondrial membrane potential of cardiomyocytes in H/R group was obviously lower than that in control group (P<0.01). The decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in Gly-liposome group was the lowest, the percentage of cells about the part of hypofluorescence was (9.61±0.76)%, which was lower than that in glycine group (P<0.01). (2) The apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes in H/R group was higher than that in control group (20.78±1.58)%,P<0.01. After the treatment of Gly-liposome, the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes was lower than that in glycine group (P<0.01). No difference in the apoptosis ratios between blank-liposome group and H/R group was observed(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Glycine liposomes protect cultured cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Glycine liposomes produce the better protective effects than glycine.     

Effect of compound salvae-dropping-pill on intracellular free calcium concentration of cultured rat myocardial cells in case of hypoxia and reoxygenation

AIM:To examine the effect of compound salvae-dropping-pill (CSDP) on intracellular free calcium in cultured rat myocardial cells subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation.METHODS:The Fluo- 3/AM was applied to probe intracellular calcium concentration and the fluorescent intensity was detected using laser confocal microscopy technique.RESULTS:Fluorescent intensity in hypoxia plus CSDP group was significantly lower (1 217.78±312.07) than that of hypoxia group (1 509±508.48), and the Fluorescent intensity of hypoxia/reoxygenation plus CSDP group was also markedly lower (1 567.91±577.61) than that of hypoxia/reoxygenation group (1 617.60±477.53).CONCLUSION:The cultured rat myocardial cells could be effectively protected by administration of CSDP in case of hypoxia and reoxygenation through decreasing the intracellular calcium concentration.     

Harmful factors affect glycine receptor α1 subunit mRNA expression in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

AIM: To investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide, hypoxia/reoxygenation,isoproterenol and high concentration of glucose on glycine receptor α₁ subunit mRNA expression in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Isolation of cardiomyocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats aging 1～3 d were performed. Cardiomyocytes （1×10⁵～5×10⁵ cells·L^-1）were cultured in DMEM medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum at 37 ℃ in 5%CO₂ atmosphere for 72 h. Then, cultured rat cardiomyocytes were treated with lipopolysaccharide, isoproterenol or high concentration of glucose for 24 h, respectively, or were exposed to hypoxia for 3 h followed by reoxygenation for 3 h. Subsequently, the cell survival rate was measured using CCK-8 reactant and RT-PCR was applied to monitor the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit mRNA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, no significant difference in the cell survival rate was observed （P＞0.05）. The expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit mRNA was increased （P＜0.01） in lipopolysaccharide（5,10,20,40,80 mg/L）,isoproterenol（20,100,500 μmol/L） or hypoxia/reoxygenation, hypoxia groups, but decreased（P＜0.01）in the group treated with high concentration of glucose（25, 50 mmol/L）. CONCLUSION: Lipopolysaccharide, isoproterenol, hypoxia/reoxygenation or hypoxia upregulates the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit mRNA,but high concentration of glucose down-regulates the expression of glycine receptor α₁ subunit mRNA in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.     

Preparation of glycine liposomes and it's effect on cardiomyocyte injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation

AIM: To prepare glycine liposome microparticle and observe the effect of glycine liposomes on cardiomyocyte injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation. METHODS: （1） Reverse-phase evaporation method was used to produce glycine liposomes, the effects of different organic solvents: aether, chloroform and two mixtures of aether/chloroform on entrapment efficiency were evaluated, transmission electron microscope was used to detect the particle diameter of glycine liposomes. （2） A cardiomyocyte injury model was established by using hypoxia/reoxygenation, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) of each group were detected. RESULTS: The entrapment efficiency of glycine liposomes prepared with the mixtures of aether/chloroform is highest compared with other organic solvents （64.8％, P<0.01）; all of glycine, glycine liposomes and blank liposomes inhibited the release of LDH, CK and CK-MB induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in cultured cardiomyocytes, and the inhibition by glycine liposomes was the most obvious （P<0.05，P<0.01）. CONCLUSIONS: The mixtures of aether/chloroform can be used to prepare glycine liposomes, which can get higher entrapment efficiency; glycine liposomes protects cultured cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury, and the protective effect of glycine liposomes is better than that of glycine.     

Effect of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant damage of cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro

AIM: To examine the effects of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and its possible mechanism. METHODS: The cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups， control， A/R group （anoxia for 120 min, reoxygenation for 240 min） and L-carnitine treatment group, in which cells were exposed to 20 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L L-carnitine respectively at 2 h before anoxia. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined, and the apoptosis was determined by flow of cytometry (FCM). In addition, the ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In A/R group, SOD and SDH activities were lower, the apoptosis rate and MDA content were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). In L-carnitine treatment group, SOD and SDH activities were higher, the apoptosis rate and MDA content were lower than those in A/R group, a L-carnitine concentration-dependent effect was found. Moreover, impairment of myocardial ultrastructure was more severe in A/R group than L-carnitine treatment group. CONCLUSION: L-carnitine can protect cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in a dose-dependent manner.     

Fuzi polysaccharide protects neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with hypoxia-reoxygenation by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIM: To investigate whether the protection mechanism of Fuzi polysaccharide (FPS) is related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). METHODS: Cultured rat myocardial cells were divided into control group, H/R group (hypoxia for 3 h and reoxygenation for 6 h) and different concentrations of FPS (0.1 g/L, 1 g/L, 10 g/L or 20 g/L) +H/R groups. The cell survival was detected by MTT assay and cell apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC staining. The expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 were determined by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of CHOP and caspase-12 was detected by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: After reoxygenation, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 in cardiomyocytes was increased. Compared with H/R group, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 in FPS+H/R groups was significantly inhibited, the survival rate of cardiomyocytes was increased and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was inhibited. This protective effect of FPS was in a dose-dependent manner and reached its peak at 10 g/L. CONCLUSION: Fuzi polysaccharide protects cardiomyocytes from H/R injury. The mechanism is related to inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.     

The characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte injury and the effect of intervention on energy metabolism after different time of hypoxia/reoxygenation

AIM:To investigate the characteristics of pathological injury and its relationship with the transformation of energy metabolism of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes after hypoxia-reoxygenation. METHODS:Cultured rat cardiomyocytes were induced to be hypertrophy by angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) and norepinephrine (NE). Glucose oxidation rate (GOR), glucolysis rate (GLR) and fatty acid oxidation rate (FOR) were determined by liquid scintillation counting, and cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. RESULTS:(1) Compared with the normal cardiomyocytes (NC), the GOR and GLR were slightly higher and the FOR was slightly lower in the group of hypertrophic cardiac cells (HC) than that in the group of normal cardiomyocytes cultured under the normal oxygen partial pressure. The apoptosis rate had no difference between the two groups. (2) The apoptosis rate of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes after hypoxia was significantly higher than that of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in normal culture. It was higher and moreover, some necrosis cardiomyocytes appeared after reoxygenation. (3) GOR and FOR in both group (NC and HC) were slightly lower in a time-dependent manner after hypoxia than that in each group in normal culture condition. GLR had no difference in both group. The GOR was more lower in both NC and HC group when reoxygenation than that at the point of hypoxia for 2 hours, but the GLR and FOR were significantly higher in HC than that in NC when reoxygenation. (4) The GOR was significantly higher and the GLR and FOR were significantly lower in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes group (HC) with dichloroacetate (DCA, 1 000 μmol/L) or trimetazidine (TMZ, 1 μmol/L) treated respectively than that in the responded hypertrophic cardiomyocytes after stimulation by hypoxia-reoxygenation. In the meanwhile, the apoptosis rate also was markedly lower in the treated hypertrophic cardiomyocytes group. CONCLUSION:The transformation of energetic metabolism pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis (mainly the apoptosis) of the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes after hypoxia-reoxygenation.     

Nitric oxide-mediated the cardioprotection of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during hypoxia/reoxygenation

AIM: To investigate the role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cardioprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. METHODS: Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were pretreated with TNF-α or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or L-arginine (L-Arg), respectively, for 12 h and then subjected to continuous hypoxia for 12 h, followed by reoxygenation for 6 h. The manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity of the cells was measured after H/R. Myocyte injury was determined by the release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). RESULTS: TNF-α (10⁵ U/L) significantly increased the Mn-SOD activity and decreased release of LDH from ventricular myocytes. The cardioprotection against H/R injury was induced by the pretreatment with SNP (5 μmol/L) or L-Arg (5 mmol/L), which was blocked by ODQ (10 μmol/L), the specific sGC inhibitor, and Chel (5 μmol/L), the specific PKC inhibitor. Pretreatment with L-NAME (100 μmol/L), ODQ, Chel, antoxidant 2-MPG (400 μmol/L) or tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (50 μmol/L) attenuated the increased Mn-SOD activity and reduced LDH level induced by TNF-α. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NO may play a role in TNF-α-induced cardioprotection, which is mediated by sGC and PKC.     

Effect of Shenmai injection on cardiomyocyte apoptosis after acute anoxia-reoxygenation

AIM: To study the effects of Shenmai injection on cardiomyocytes apoptosis after acute anoxia-reoxygenation (A/R) and the possible mechanism. METHODS: In this experiment, cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal rat were used. Model of myocardial anoxia-reoxygenation injury was produced by depriving oxygen for 5 min and then restoring oxygen for 15 min. The apoptotic cells was detected by flow cytometry to detect labbled Annexin V-FITC/PI. The intracellular calcium level was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy markered Fluo-3/AM. RESULTS: In anoxia-reoxygenation group, the percentage of apoptotic cells and fluorescent intensity of intracellular calcium were both prominently higher than those in control group (P<0.01). The apoptotic rate in Shenmai injection group was notably less than that in A/R group and the intracellular calcium overload was also less obvious in Shenmai injection group than that in A/R group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Shenmai injection has notable effects on attenuating apoptotic rate after acute anoxia-reoxygenation in cardiomyocytes, which may be partly due to its alleviating intracellular calcium overload.     

Effect of polyamines on intracellular calcium of the rat cardiomyocytes with anoxia and reoxygenation

AIM: To study the effect of extrogenous low concentration polyamine on cardiomyocyte calcium overload caused by anoxia and reoxygenation. METHODS: Enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes were perfused with normal Tyrode solution for 8 min, then change to anoxia solution for 32 min, at last back to normal Tyrode solution perfusion for 8 min to establish the cardiomyocyte model of anoxia and reoxygenation. Spermine was added extracellularly to the bath before anoxia and spermine, spermidine or putrescine was added extracellularly after reoxygenation. Intracellular calcium fluorescence intensity (FI) was measured continuously by laser scan confocal microscope (LSCM). RESULTS: In the unstimulated state, exogenous spermine (1 mol/L) did not change resting ［Ca2+］i in the rat cardiomyocytes. Adding spermine before anoxia antagonized the ［Ca2+］i elevating caused by anoxia/reoxygenation. Adding spermine after reoxygenation also lowed the enhanced ［Ca2+］i caused by reoxygenation. Considering the potency of two conditions, the former was more efficacious than the later. Spermidine and putrescine also lowed the enhanced ［Ca2+］i caused by reoxygenation, but they were less efficacious than spermine. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that spermine given before anoxia or after reoxygenation, antagonized or lowed the cardiomyocytes calcium overload caused by anoxia/reoxygenation, but the later was weaker than the former. The order of potency of the polyamine lighten cardiomyocytes calcium overload caused by anoxia/reoxygenation was spermine>spermindine>putrescine.     

Preconditioning effect of nitrate medicine on different parts of the heart and its signaling pathway

AIM: To study the preconditioning effect of nitrate medicine on different parts of the heart and its signaling pathway. METHODS: The cells from different parts of the heart (atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle, apex and the whole heart) were isolated and cultured. The cultured cells were treated with hypoxia and reperfusion, hypoxia preconditioning, 1 mmol/L L-arginine preconditioning and 5 mmol/L L-arginine preconditioning, respectively. The cell necrosis rate, cell apoptosis rate, LDH concentration in the medium, the ［Ca2+］i and PKC activity in the cells were determined. RESULTS: The result show that hypoxia and reperfusion increased the necrosis rate and apoptosis rate, enhanced the concentration of LDH in the medium and the ［Ca2+］i overload in the cells (P<0.05), but there was no difference between these groups (P>0.05). After hypoxia preconditioning and L-arginine preconditioning, these indexes decreased (P<0.05) while the PKC activity increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Nitrate medicine protected the cells from different parts of the heart against hypoxia and reperfusion, and this function may achieve through the activation of PKC.     

Effects of HES 130/0.4 on no-reflow after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: To observe the effects and mechanisms of hydroxyethylstarch(HES) 130/0.4 on no-reflow phenomenon after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion(IR, treated with normal saline) group, normal saline ischemia-reperfusion(NS-IR, treated with NS) group and HES ischemia-reperfusion(HES-IR, treated with HES) group. Myocardial infarct size and no-reflow range were determined by staining methods, and the activities of myocardial enzymes(CK-MB, cTnI and MPO) were measured. Meanwhile, cardiac microvascular endothelial cells of the rat were cultured and divided into 4 groups:control group, hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) group, NS-H/R group and HES-H/R group. Acute ischemia reperfusion models were simulated, and the concentration of calcium ions was measured. The relative cell activity was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, and the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In HES-IR group, the myocardial infarct size, the no-reflow zone, CK-MB, cTnI and MPO activity were all significantly lower than those in IR group(P<0.05). In microvascular endothelial cells, the concentration of calcium ions and the apoptotic rate in HES-H/R group were significantly decreased, while the relative cell activity increased compared with H/R group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HES reduces no-reflow in acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. The mechanism may be involved in the inhibition of both the infiltration of neutrophils and the calcium overload of endothelial cells.     

Role of mitochondrial permeability transition pore in TNFα-induced cardioprotection in isolated rat hearts subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation

AIM: To investigate whether tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) pretreatment can inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in isolated rat hearts subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. METHODS: Isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 30 min regional hypoxia (occlusion of left anterior descending artery) and 120 min reoxygenation. The infarct size, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release during reoxygenation and ventricular hemodynamic parameters were measured. RESULTS: Pretreatment with TNFα at concentration of 1×104 U/L for 7 min followed by 10 min washout reduced the infarct size and LDH release, and improved the left ventricular performance (left ventricular developed pressure and rate-pressure product) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure during hypoxia and reoxygenation. Administration of atractyloside (Atr, an opener of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, 20 μmol/L) for 20 min (last 5 min of hypoxia and first 15 min of reoxygenation) and paxilline (Pax, a calcium activated potassium channel antagonist, 1 μmol/L) for 5 min before hypoxia attenuated the reduction of infarct size and LDH release and improved the left ventricular performance induced by TNFα. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that in the isolated rat heart model, TNFα protects myocardium against hypoxia and reoxygenation injury via inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening as well as activating calcium, activated potassium channel.     

Anti-aging Klotho protein reduce the hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of neonatal rat myocardial cells

AIM: To study the effects of anti-aging Klotho protein on neonatal rat myocardial cells with hypo-xia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. METHODS: The cardiomyocytes of neonatal SD rats were cultured to establish hypoxia/reoxygenation model. The myocardial cells were divided into normal control group, H/R model group, different concentrations of Klotho protein (0.1 μmol/L, 1 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) pretreatment groups. The myocardial cells pulse frequency was observed before and after H/R. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The leakages of LDH, CK and AST, the content of MDA and the activity of SOD were detected. The apoptotic rate of the myocardial cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and apoptosis-related molecules GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 was measured by real-time PCR. The protein levels of CHOP, caspase-12 and phosphorylated Akt in the myocardial cells were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the pulse frequency, cell viability rate and SOD activity of myocardial cells were significantly decreased, the cell apoptotic rate as well as the contents of LDH, CK, AST and MDA were increased in H/R model group. The mRNA expressions of GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 as well as the protein levels of CHOP and caspase-12 were increased, whereas p-Akt level was decreased obviously. Compared with H/R model group, the pulse frequency, cell viability rate and SOD activity were increased significantly, the cell apoptotic rate as well as the contents of LDH, CK, AST and MDA were decreased in Klotho pretreated group. The mRNA expression of GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 as well as the protein levels of CHOP and caspase-12 were decreased, while p-Akt level increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Anti-aging Klotho protein improves the myocardial cell survival and inhibits the apoptosis by increasing the resistance of the cells to oxidative stress and excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response, which is related with the activation of Akt phosphorylation in H/R-injured mycardial cells.     

Effects of Tribulus terrestris L. saponin on apoptosis and changes in cytosolic calcium induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat cortical neurons

AIM: To study the effect of Tribulus terrestris L. saponin (TTLS) on apoptosis and changes in cytosolic calcium concentration induced by hypoxia/re-oxygenation in rat cortical neurons. METHODS: Rat cortical neurons in primary culture were used, and a apoptosis model was induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation. LDH releasing rate was detected by spectrophotometry. The apoptosis rate of cortical neurons was analyzed quantitatively by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC and PI staining. Intracellular free Ca2+(［Ca2+］i) was observed with a confocal laser-scanning microscope and determined by mean fluorescent value with Fluo-3 fluometry. RESULTS: Compared to control group, three hours of hypoxia and twelve hours of reoxygenation group induced cortical neuronal apoptosis and significantly increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration（P<0.01). Compared with model group, TTLS decreased the percentage of neuronal apoptosis and reduced neuronal ［Ca2+］i（P<0.01).CONCLUSION: TTLS could obviously reduce hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis and alleviate the damage degree of rat cortical neurons.The mechanism might be related to inhibiting the calcium overload induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat cortical neurons.     

Inhibitory effect of catalpol on inflammation and expression of RAGE in EA.hy926 cells induced by advanced glycation end products

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of catalpol on inflammation in EA.hy926 cells induced by advanced glycation end products(AGEs) and to explore its antioxidant mechanisms.METHODS: Human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 was cultured and randomly divided into control group, catalpol(0.5 mmol/L) group, AGEs group, high-dose(0.5 mmol/L) catalpol+AGEs group, middle-dose(0.25 mmol/L) catalpol+AGEs group and low-dose(0.05 mmol/L) catalpol+AGEs group. Intracellular reative oxygen species(ROS) production was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in culture supernatant were detected by commercial ELISA kits. The expression of MCP-1, TNF-α, VCAM-1 and receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE) in the EA.hy926 cells were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: In high-dose catalpol+AGEs and middle-dose catalpol+AGEs groups, the generation of ROS was decreased significantly. The levels of MCP-1, TNF-α and VCAM-1, and protein expression of MCP-1, TNF-α and VCAM-1 were significantly lower. The expression of RAGE protein in EA.hy926 cells were significantly inhibited(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Catalpol effectively inhibits the AGEs-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in EA.hy926 cells, which may be associated with a decrease in the expression of RAGE.     

Role of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in protective effect of hypoxia or pinacidil postconditioning against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in adult rat cardiomyocytes

AIM：To investigate whether nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway is involved in the protective effect of hypoxia or pinacidil postconditioning against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in adult rat cardiomyocytes. METHODS：Cardiomyocytes were isolated from the left ventricle of male adult Sprague-Dawley rats (250~300 g) by Langendorff perfusion and collagenase II digestion. The cells were randomly divided into six groups (n=8 in each group). The cells in N group were cultured for 22 h without any treatment. The cells in the other five groups were cultured for 20 h and then underwent 45 min of hypoxia followed by 60 min of reoxygenation (M group), three 5-min cycles of reoxygenation/hypoxia plus 60 min of reoxygenation (IPO group), or treatment with pinacidil (25, 50 and 100 μmol/L) for 5 min plus 60 min of reoxygenation (P25, P50 and P100 groups, respectively). The expression of Nrf2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) at mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS：The mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and SOD1 in M, IPO, P25, P50 and P100 groups were significantly decreased compared with N group (P＜0.05), and those in IPO, P25, P50 and P100 groups were obviously higher than those in M group (P＜0.05). The mRNA levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and SOD1 in IPO and P50 groups were obviously higher than those in P25 and P100 groups (P＜0.05). The mRNA expression of SOD1 in P25 group was obviously higher than that in P100 group (P＜0.05). The protein levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and SOD1 in IPO and P50 groups were obviously higher than those in P25 and P100 groups (P＜0.05). The protein expression of HO-1 in P50 group was obviously higher than that in IPO, P25 and P100 groups (P＜0.05). The protein levels of HO-1 and NQO1 in P25 group were obviously higher than those in P100 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION：Hypoxia or pinacidil postconditioning may attenuate hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in adult rat cardiomyocytes via activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.